Lee Class Cast single stage press

[goldpelican]

Looking at adding a single stage press to the bench for specific batch tasks (full length resizing and primer crimp swaging). Already have a Lee Classic Turret, but I just have the feels that I don't want to be full length resizing on it in bulk.

Pretty much all of my gear is Lee except for a few handheld tools - is there anything about the Lee Classic Cast single stage that screams stay away? Can't really find many negative reviews.

There's two versions - breech and non-breech - has anyone got the breech system for changing dies and found issues with it? I'm assuming that it supposed to keep die adjustment pre-set when swapping them out (in addition to being "quick change"). Is there a reason to stay away from the breech version?

 

[JackSprat]

My press is a Challenger,and it has the breech lock,but I never use it as one..All my dies,except one set are RCBS,and Lyman with set screw locking rings,so unscrewing them takes only a few seconds,and my settings are not lost..I think Lees rubber O-Ring lock system is a hair-brained idea...I like the press it's self ,and I like the press mounted priming system..My only beef with it has been the wooden gearshift style ball on the handle came off,and is not threaded..

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I have no complaints about mine.
There are other presses on the my bench but the Lee still gets used.

 

[mdi]

I had a Lee turret for many (15?) years and F/L sized my 30-06 brass fired outta my Garand. It's still pretty tight. I wouldn't hesitate to use the Classic Cast for any reloading procedures...

 

[Rule3]

I have the Classic Breech lock and the Turret.

The single stage is fine, no issues well built,

but I am sure others will chime in to say, buy a Dillon 650!

 

[peels]

I got the normal classic cast for spent primer handling. The breach lock version ejects primer to the side. The normal classic cast eject spent primer is thru the ram.

Additionally if you are planning to use the
RCBS Primer Pocket Swager Combo, you can not use the breach lock version of the press because the area around the ram is not flat.

 

[splattergun]

is there anything about the Lee Classic Cast single stage that screams stay away?

Nope

 

[rjbmjb]

I got the normal classic cast for loading 50 BMG. It is a well built, heavy duty press, and I have no problems sizing the cases for the fifty. If you have the space, a second press always comes in handy for depriming, etc when the turret is set up for a specific caliber.

x2 on the spent primer handling thru the ram. Mine came with a 16" plastic tube and end cap that will hold a lot of primers before you need to empty it.

 

[goldpelican]

Additionally if you are planning to use the
RCBS Primer Pocket Swager Combo, you can not use the breach lock version of the press because the area around the ram is not flat.

Thanks - exactly the sort of insight I was looking for!

 

[Fishslayer]

Additionally if you are planning to use the
RCBS Primer Pocket Swager Combo, you can not use the breach lock version of the press because the area around the ram is not flat.

I haven't been able to make it work on my Lee Classic Turret either. No Sweat. My buddy has a Dillon Super Swager.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'm using the Lee Classic Cast single stage on my bench to complement my Hornady LNL AP.

It does everything an RCBS Rockchucker can do and can be modified to do even more (more leverage). I use it mostly for depriming and sizing, it it is also very handy for pulling bullets with the Hornady Collet Bullet Puller or using the Redding RX-G to debudge .40 glocked cases

I went with the non-breach lock version mostly for the superior spent primer handling system. I installed the Hornady Bushing Conversion System for quick interchange between dies

 

[goldpelican]

Thanks - actually a change in direction, I might get the Dillon Super Swage 600 next, and can resize on the turret for now. Then I don't need to worry about swaging tool compatibility.

I think I will eventually get the non-breech Lee in the future unless something second hand comes along in the meantime. I currently deprime using the Harvey Deprimer so for me that's not really a deciding factor. Doing more than a thousand cases in a day gets a few callouses started though (working my way through the 10 gallons of range brass I bought).

 

[9mmepiphany]

The Dillon Super Swage is very nice...a friend has one that I've used. There is a hack on YouTube to speed up the process. It also helps if you sort your brass, at least by headstamp, first.

It's speed really doesn't compare to the Hornady swage system...but you'd need to own a LNL AP to take advantage of that system

 

[Biggs300]

I too have both Lee Classic Cast single stage and their classic cast turret press. The single stage replaced a fairly RCBS Rockchucker. I never could get use to the feel of the press (or lack thereof). In my opinion, the Lee has a much better feel, especially when seating bullets. I can't imagine needing anything better than either of my Lee's, as they both get the job done as well as any press I've tried. Some may be quicker, but quicker isn't always better.

 

[Toprudder]

A few people have already mentioned the primer handling differences. If you don't deprime on the press, it really is not an issue. I use an LCT because it handles the primers the same way the non-breech classic cast does. I've probably decapped 30k brass on mine, and I've only cleaned/lubed it once in that time. There is a simple hack that makes things easier on the LCT (and I assume on the cast as well) where I use a short piece of straw that sticks into the bottom of the shell holder, and goes down into the ram for ~ 2" or so. This allows ALL the primer residue to go down through the ram with the primers, and does not require the insertion of the primer ram assembly to act as a funnel to guide the spent primers.

If you want the quick change feature that the breech-lock gives, then buy the Hornady insert kit. Just remove the insert that is in the press and replace it with the Hornady insert.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/858110/hornady-lock-n-load-press-and-die-conversion-bushing-kit

 

[scythefwd]

Love mine. Have the normal, non bushing one.. then upgraded it with a lock n load bushing upgrade kit from amazon for 15 dollars. Bought it over the bushing version due to it sending spent primers out the bottom of the ram vs. out the side. I recommend staying away from the rcbs swager with it and go with the ch4d instead.. almost as fast as the dillon super swage at 1/2 the cost (or less).

 

[RussellC]

I haven't been able to make it work on my Lee Classic Turret either. No Sweat. My buddy has a Dillon Super Swager.

Dillon swager all the way. I have both Lee Classic Turret and tbe Single Stage breech lock. I use the Single stage to decap large runs of fired brass. Lee Universal Decapping Die most always mounted on it.

Russellc

 

[scythefwd]

RussellC - with the right setup, you'd be surprised at how fast the lee can be removing crimps. I'll post a quick video on how fast it works later.. I'll have to reshoot it in order to clean it up.. but it takes about 3 seconds per piece of brass on the lee with the ch4d swaging kit.

 

[rodinal220]

I bought one in the 50BMG kit. It has worked well for 50BMG, sizing surplus 50BMG bullets, forming 300BLK and forming blank ammo cases.

 

[tcook90]

Here's another option to throw in the mix. Titan Reloading has the Lee Classic cast at $107 + shipping. (Lowest I found after a quick search). Kentucky Gun Co. has a sale right now for the Hornady LnL classic kit for $169 + shipping. Press, powder measure, hand primer, electronic scale, 9th edition book and more... Here's the link:
https://www.kygunco.com/Product/View?ItemNo=57928

 

[Leatherstocking]

I have the breech lock Bushings on all my dies and love them. There is a relatively new version, the lock ring eliminator which clamps the die with a screw. Looks like $11-16. One for each die.
Or you can just leave the bushing in the press and use it like a non-breechlock press.

 

[flashhole]

I have the standard Lee Classic Cast, not the breech lock version. Great press. I sent a note to RCBS asking if I could buy a large stripper cup to use with their primer pocket swager tool. The ram on the Lee Classic Cast press is too fat for the standard stripper cup. RCBS sent me one for free. I win on both fronts, press and swager.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

They have a larger cup?
I've been deciding what to do as I too have a Lee press and the RCBS swager I picked up one night.

I'll have to call them. Like you I'm willing to pay for it as I like the swager but we'll see what they say.

 

[Rule3]

They have a larger cup?
I've been deciding what to do as I too have a Lee press and the RCBS swager I picked up one night.

I'll have to call them. Like you I'm willing to pay for it as I like the swager but we'll see what they say.

It's free, nada zilch!

 

[Hokie_PhD]

I got that. I was just saying, I'm not expecting something for nothing, but no cost is great! So I appreciate you letting us know.